Dating Is Digital. Why Is Getting Married Still So Offline?
As Daniel Castro writes in Government Technology, a new analysis from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation identifies a stark “digital marriage divide” across the United States. While most core government services are accessible online, the process of applying for, recording, and obtaining a marriage certificate often still requires in-person visits, paper forms, and manual workflows. Only 10 states offer largely end-to-end digital processes, while many fall into partial or fully paper-based systems.
The report categorizes states as “E-Lopers,” “Paper Trailers,” and “In-Personals,” highlighting wide disparities in accessibility and cost. Leading jurisdictions such as Utah County and New York City have implemented digital licenses, virtual appointments, and electronically verifiable certificates, while others continue to rely on mail-in forms and wet-ink signatures.
Castro argues the primary barriers are legal and administrative, not technological. Updating statutes to permit electronic signatures and modernizing fragmented local processes would allow states to deliver marriage services that match residents’ digital expectations.
